Arsenal Implosion Continues: 3rd Place Offered Up

It's on. Aston Villa's 1-2 victory at the Emirates Stadium today means Manchester City have a golden opportunity to hammer the final nail into Arsenal's catastrophic run-in...

Few people would have entertained the slightest suggestion of City finishing above Arsenal on that dark, demoralising evening last October in Manchester when Arsenal trounced 10 man City 0-3 following the 4th minute dismissal of young Dedryk Boyata.

It was clear from that time up until Arsenal's humiliating Carling Cup Final defeat by Birmingham that far too many chickens had been counted by just about everyone associated with The Gooners. And why wouldn't they? They were in the ascendancy on four fronts!

The rest is history as Arsene Wenger's beleaguered team bottled all four of those trophy winning opportunities and are suddenly now flirting with a fifth in threatening to concede automatic Champions League qualification to Roberto Mancini's resurgent Citizens.

The Community Shield, Wembley, Sunday 7th August 2011 - City v the rags.

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What a stunning opportunity for MCFC. Both our next opponents have nothing left to play for. Stoke are in Europe thanks to our team's progress. Bolton have given up. - Wanderers are continuing to open up more seats to City fans at the Reebok. It will be like a home game. - The stages are set.